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Published on September 1, 2006; 10.1104/pp.106.086678

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Received July 12, 2006
Accepted August 28, 2006

The cellulose synthase gene superfamily and biochemical functions of xylem-specific cellulose synthase-like genes in Populus trichocarpa

Shiro Suzuki , Laigeng Li , Ying-Hsuan Sun , and Vincent L. Chiang *

Forest Biotechnology Group, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695

* Corresponding author; email: vincent_chiang{at}ncsu.edu.

Wood from forest trees modified for more cellulose or hemicelluloses could be a major feedstock for fuel ethanol. Xylan and glucomannan are the two major hemicelluloses in wood of angiosperms. However, little is known about the genes and gene products involved in the synthesis of these wood polysaccharides. Using Populus trichocarpa as a model angiosperm tree, we report here a systematic analysis in various tissues of the absolute transcript copy numbers of cellulose synthase superfamily genes, the cellulose synthase (CesA) and the hemicellulose-related cellulose synthase-like (Csl) genes. Candidate Csl genes were characterized for biochemical functions in Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cells. Of the 48 identified members, 37 were found expressed in various tissues. Seven CesA genes are xylem-specific, suggesting gene networks for the synthesis of wood cellulose. Four Csl genes are xylem-specific, of which three belong to the CslA subfamily. The more xylem-specific CslA subfamily is represented by three types of members, PtCslA1, PtCslA3 and PtCslA5. They share high sequence homology but their recombinant proteins produced by the S2 cells exhibited distinct substrate specificity. PtCslA5 had no catalytic activity with the substrates for xylan or glucomannan. PtCslA1 and PtCslA3 encoded mannan synthases, but PtCslA1 further encoded a glucomannan synthase for the synthesis of (1->4)-{beta}-D-glucomannan. The expression of PtCslA1 is most highly xylem-specific, suggesting a key role for it in the synthesis of wood glucomannan. The results may help guide further studies to learn about the regulation of cellulose and hemicellulose synthesis in wood.




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